The other day, a college student posted this on social media:
"Don't take this class if you have any glimpse of conservativeness in you."
*adds to schedule*
This college student is a very bright young man, a very good young man, a very idealistic young man. And he goes to an outstanding university. He's also very witty, and I laughed really hard when I read what he posted.
You might be wondering to what class he is referring. It is called: Race and Minority Relations.
I would love to take that class.
Anyway, this young man not only entertained me, he got me to thinking. And I started thinking that the progressive young people and the conservative young people need to start taking each others' classes. Maybe some old people -- on both sides of the political divide -- need to be taking these classes, too. I would love to see Rush Limbaugh have to sit in on Race and Minority Relations -- perhaps with his mouth duct taped closed.
Those of you who have been reading my blog know that I am a Republican, with strong progressive sympathies. As a Republican, I have been pretty mortified by my party over the past several years. Way too much extremism and blatantly crazy ideas going on. And not just a little bit of fear-mongering, either. I'm pretty tired of it all.
Those of you who have been reading my blog also know that I am a Catholic and that I have three children -- two girls and a boy -- who are 25, 23, and 21 years old.
So, as a Catholic Republican, I admit that I was not disappointed when my two oldest chose to attend very conservative Catholic colleges. I wanted them to learn their faith well, and to be in an atmosphere where they would feel supported in their beliefs as they entered the adult world. The schools they attended were quite good, and they received fine educations. I did notice, though, that there was nary a Democrat to be found at either of their schools -- not amongst the students, not amongst the faculty, not amongst the staff. Well... Okay. Perhaps I exaggerate. There were probably a few Democrats in the mix. But, if there were, I bet they felt they couldn't show up sporting Obama bumper stickers on their cars. So most, if not all, of the classes my daughters took had a decidedly conservative bent. And most of the students and graduates of these schools -- at least the ones I have spent time with -- don't think very highly of progressive ideas. And they probably aren't hanging out with progressives in social settings too much, either -- at least, voluntarily.
My son's school is also Catholic. And most people would call it conservative. There are, though, quite a few progressives there -- amongst the students, faculty, and staff. Some of the classes are taught from a more conservative angle, some from a more progressive angle. My son tends to be very conservative, both religiously and politically. I have been quite impressed, though, at the friendships he has formed at his school with people of varying ideas. When he arrived home for his first Christmas break, he told me that he was finding that, "If you have a problem, it's really nice to talk to your more liberal friends. They tend to be much more sympathetic than the really conservative people." Please don't be insulted if you are a sympathetic conservative person. I don't mean to be insulting, and neither did my son. I was really happy, though, that through his exposure to progressives, he was coming to appreciate them. He was coming to view their ideas in a more open-minded manner. He was coming to see their opinions, not as threats, but as different ways of looking at the world, to be considered and discussed in a fair manner.
So, when I saw the statement made by the young man about how the conservatives probably shouldn't take the Race and Minority Relations class, it made me start to ponder my own children's college experiences, which got me to thinking about how everybody needs to start taking each others' classes. Because, as we all know, our country has become very polarized ideologically. Everybody is digging in with their own side. It's almost like trench warfare. "You progressives stay in your ditch and we conservatives will stay in ours." And once in a while -- because we've come to view each other as enemies -- we'll lob mortars into each others' trenches. And these mortars -- while maybe not causing literal limbs to be lost -- do cause injury to our society, to our culture, and to the individuals that make up our society and our culture.
So, I would like to encourage all of you young people -- left, right, and center -- to get out of your trenches and go raise a glass or two together. Talk to each other. LISTEN to each other. I have seen the good effect this respectful sharing of ideas has had on my son. And I would like to see more of it. And I believe that if you don't get out there and start mixing with each other in a way that is truly sincere, good-hearted, open-minded, and FRIENDLY, that you are simply short-changing yourselves, our country, and our world.
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Monday, October 21, 2013
Thursday, October 3, 2013
The Political Stuff I Enjoyed As A Child
I didn't grow up in an extremely political or partisan household. I was born in 1963, and my parents were both Democrats, albeit fairly conservative ones for the times. They did, though, read the newspaper religiously and watch the political coverage on television. Our TV got all three major networks, PBS, and something called Channel 2 (which mostly aired re-runs of popular shows and Saturday afternoon horror flicks). My mom and dad would discuss politics and candidates -- sometimes in a very spirited way -- in the presence of my sisters and I. I also liked to sit with my dad when he watched the political commentators and debates. My parents always encouraged us kids to participate in their discussions and form our own opinions. In my extended family -- which was fairly large and fairly Italian -- not many people were timid. We all enjoyed the good "argument" -- whether it be about politics or religion or morality or education or whatever.
I was aware, therefore, from a fairly young age, that politics involved quite a bit of contention and, often, scandal. I watched the candidates and their allies spar, often quite viciously, over issues. There were great divisions in the country and among politicians, concerning Vietnam, Watergate, the energy crisis, sexual ethics, welfare, taxes, etc. Sometimes, as a little girl, I got the impression that the candidates running against each other actually hated each other.
But, do you know what I started to notice? Do you know what really struck me, more than any of the great and pressing issues of the day and how they were resolved (or left unresolved)? I remember watching the candidates, after the election results came in, speak about each other and to each other. They would shake hands, if they were in the same place. They would say good and positive things about each other, praising each other. They would talk about how the campaign was well-done and hard-fought. But, then they would say that it was time to come together as a people and a nation, in support of the candidate who had just won. They would impress upon us how important it was to the current and future state of our country that we remember that we needed to respect each other and work together, even if we had different views. I know that candidates still say things like this, but somehow, back then, they seemed to mean it more. Maybe they seemed to walk the talk a little better, at least to my young eyes.
Do you know, though, why this impressed me so much? Because even though I could appreciate and even enjoy the political contests, they did make me a bit uneasy. The cantankerous spirit of the campaigns, though interesting, did make me feel a little anxious about the state of my home, my country. But, when I saw the candidates come together, in a unified fashion, when the election results came in, it made me feel like everything was going to be okay. It gave me confidence and hope in the future. It made me feel like our nation was being run by responsible adults, who truly cared about the well-being of the citizens.
And when I look at our political culture presently -- especially this week, with the government "shutdown" and all -- I really wish we could get some of that spirit back. I wish we could start to behave -- from the top down -- as one, indivisible nation.
God bless.
I was aware, therefore, from a fairly young age, that politics involved quite a bit of contention and, often, scandal. I watched the candidates and their allies spar, often quite viciously, over issues. There were great divisions in the country and among politicians, concerning Vietnam, Watergate, the energy crisis, sexual ethics, welfare, taxes, etc. Sometimes, as a little girl, I got the impression that the candidates running against each other actually hated each other.
But, do you know what I started to notice? Do you know what really struck me, more than any of the great and pressing issues of the day and how they were resolved (or left unresolved)? I remember watching the candidates, after the election results came in, speak about each other and to each other. They would shake hands, if they were in the same place. They would say good and positive things about each other, praising each other. They would talk about how the campaign was well-done and hard-fought. But, then they would say that it was time to come together as a people and a nation, in support of the candidate who had just won. They would impress upon us how important it was to the current and future state of our country that we remember that we needed to respect each other and work together, even if we had different views. I know that candidates still say things like this, but somehow, back then, they seemed to mean it more. Maybe they seemed to walk the talk a little better, at least to my young eyes.
Do you know, though, why this impressed me so much? Because even though I could appreciate and even enjoy the political contests, they did make me a bit uneasy. The cantankerous spirit of the campaigns, though interesting, did make me feel a little anxious about the state of my home, my country. But, when I saw the candidates come together, in a unified fashion, when the election results came in, it made me feel like everything was going to be okay. It gave me confidence and hope in the future. It made me feel like our nation was being run by responsible adults, who truly cared about the well-being of the citizens.
And when I look at our political culture presently -- especially this week, with the government "shutdown" and all -- I really wish we could get some of that spirit back. I wish we could start to behave -- from the top down -- as one, indivisible nation.
God bless.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
I Have Figured Out What Is Going On
It is the 60's again.
Yep.
Except, this time, the "hippies" have left their VW vans behind and have gone to grad school and are busy gathering "data."
Lest you think I am poking fun at these "new hippies," let me assure you, I am NOT. I was born in 1963, and when I was a little girl, I always had a real fondness for the hippies. Of course, my mother told me stories about how they used LSD and jumped out of windows. That was not so impressive. Thence, when I actually encountered hippies in real life, I was a bit timid, being aware of their potential unpredictability, and all. But, I admired them, as well. I admired their disdain for material goods, their passion for civil rights, their desire to make society better for the poor and underprivileged, their hatred of war, their comfort with their bodies, and their less-than-prudish attitudes about sex. (Okay. So, that last thing? Maybe they took it a bit too far. But, hey, they were reacting to a society that was, perhaps, a tad too "uptight.")
Eventually, though, the hippies kind of faded out. The 1980's rolled around, along with a new mind-set. Conservatism was "in" again. Guys sported short hair and women's hem-lines dropped, giving the impression of a renewed sexual propriety. (Was this an illusion? Yes, in many ways. Plenty of sex was still going on.) People became more interested in pursuing material well-being. A negative outlook toward taxes and the "welfare state" developed. Why? Maybe because there were many mistakes made in the implementation of a lot of liberal ideals, mistakes which did cause pain for the middle class. So, in the 80's, we young people decided to get MBA's and make ourselves lots of money. (I, though, became a teacher. You should have heard some of the crap I got from the business students at my university. These business students used to strut about in their suits and ties and shiny shoes, making fun of the rest of us non-business students. I shit you not.)
Time rolled on, of course, and the weaknesses and pitfalls contained in the ideas of the "Reagan Revolution" began to show.
Thus, here comes my little hypothesis:
The hippies of the 1960's never really went away. They just sort of went stealth. They finished their educations, dressed more normally, got normal jobs, lived in normal neighborhoods, and gave up drugs (mostly). And -- most importantly -- THEY HAD BABIES. And they raised these babies with their liberal (now known as "progressive") ideals. But, did they send them off to live in communes and VW vans and to grow their own organic food? Well, some of them did. HOWEVER, a lot of these 60's hippies earned good money and sent their idealistically-raised babies to the finest universities, where they earned undergraduate degrees and graduate degrees, and learned things such as history and law and economics and public relations and data mining. And now these children of the hippies have come of age, and are flexing their well-educated muscles in a way their parents never could.
So, I give you:
The progressives of today. Young, idealistic, enthusiastic, fresh-faced. And SMART. And CONFIDENT. And MOTIVATED.
Motivated to do what? To make this world a better place -- truly a place of equality and freedom and justice.
And I hope they do it. I think they are much better prepared to do it than their parents were.
But, I hope that in working toward making our society a truly "great" one that they will carefully attend to the lessons of the past. I hope that they will not altogether discount traditional ways of looking at things and more "conservative" voices. (Not the d-bag conservatives, but the nice ones. I truly believe that there are at least a few of those hanging around in coffee shops somewhere.) Because, as my very wise father used to say, "Before you change the way something is done, you should look at why it was done that way in the first place. Maybe there were good reasons." Yes, sometimes things have been done in certain ways for all the wrong reasons. Although, that is not always the case.
And that brings me to a little request I have of my fellow conservatives. (All right. I know I'm not all that conservative. But, whatever.) Please don't make fun of today's younger progressives. Don't treat them with disdain and contempt. Don't call them communists and fascists -- for they are absolutely NOT that. They are intelligent people of good-will and you should treat them as such. Impart any "wisdom" you feel you have in a way that is respectful. If you don't, anything beneficial you have to say to them will fall on deaf ears. They are bright. They truly want a better world. Work with them.
Yep.
Except, this time, the "hippies" have left their VW vans behind and have gone to grad school and are busy gathering "data."
Lest you think I am poking fun at these "new hippies," let me assure you, I am NOT. I was born in 1963, and when I was a little girl, I always had a real fondness for the hippies. Of course, my mother told me stories about how they used LSD and jumped out of windows. That was not so impressive. Thence, when I actually encountered hippies in real life, I was a bit timid, being aware of their potential unpredictability, and all. But, I admired them, as well. I admired their disdain for material goods, their passion for civil rights, their desire to make society better for the poor and underprivileged, their hatred of war, their comfort with their bodies, and their less-than-prudish attitudes about sex. (Okay. So, that last thing? Maybe they took it a bit too far. But, hey, they were reacting to a society that was, perhaps, a tad too "uptight.")
Eventually, though, the hippies kind of faded out. The 1980's rolled around, along with a new mind-set. Conservatism was "in" again. Guys sported short hair and women's hem-lines dropped, giving the impression of a renewed sexual propriety. (Was this an illusion? Yes, in many ways. Plenty of sex was still going on.) People became more interested in pursuing material well-being. A negative outlook toward taxes and the "welfare state" developed. Why? Maybe because there were many mistakes made in the implementation of a lot of liberal ideals, mistakes which did cause pain for the middle class. So, in the 80's, we young people decided to get MBA's and make ourselves lots of money. (I, though, became a teacher. You should have heard some of the crap I got from the business students at my university. These business students used to strut about in their suits and ties and shiny shoes, making fun of the rest of us non-business students. I shit you not.)
Time rolled on, of course, and the weaknesses and pitfalls contained in the ideas of the "Reagan Revolution" began to show.
Thus, here comes my little hypothesis:
The hippies of the 1960's never really went away. They just sort of went stealth. They finished their educations, dressed more normally, got normal jobs, lived in normal neighborhoods, and gave up drugs (mostly). And -- most importantly -- THEY HAD BABIES. And they raised these babies with their liberal (now known as "progressive") ideals. But, did they send them off to live in communes and VW vans and to grow their own organic food? Well, some of them did. HOWEVER, a lot of these 60's hippies earned good money and sent their idealistically-raised babies to the finest universities, where they earned undergraduate degrees and graduate degrees, and learned things such as history and law and economics and public relations and data mining. And now these children of the hippies have come of age, and are flexing their well-educated muscles in a way their parents never could.
So, I give you:
The progressives of today. Young, idealistic, enthusiastic, fresh-faced. And SMART. And CONFIDENT. And MOTIVATED.
Motivated to do what? To make this world a better place -- truly a place of equality and freedom and justice.
And I hope they do it. I think they are much better prepared to do it than their parents were.
But, I hope that in working toward making our society a truly "great" one that they will carefully attend to the lessons of the past. I hope that they will not altogether discount traditional ways of looking at things and more "conservative" voices. (Not the d-bag conservatives, but the nice ones. I truly believe that there are at least a few of those hanging around in coffee shops somewhere.) Because, as my very wise father used to say, "Before you change the way something is done, you should look at why it was done that way in the first place. Maybe there were good reasons." Yes, sometimes things have been done in certain ways for all the wrong reasons. Although, that is not always the case.
And that brings me to a little request I have of my fellow conservatives. (All right. I know I'm not all that conservative. But, whatever.) Please don't make fun of today's younger progressives. Don't treat them with disdain and contempt. Don't call them communists and fascists -- for they are absolutely NOT that. They are intelligent people of good-will and you should treat them as such. Impart any "wisdom" you feel you have in a way that is respectful. If you don't, anything beneficial you have to say to them will fall on deaf ears. They are bright. They truly want a better world. Work with them.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
A Little Reflection
This is just a little reflection about something that I have been... well... reflecting on lately.
There is a wonderful priest at our parish. He is older, and full of wisdom and life experience. I love his homilies. They always leave me feeling peaceful. A few weeks ago he said (I was so impressed that I wrote it down in my checkbook register during his homily), "Sin is that which causes enmity between people." And then he said, "War is rooted in sin."
This started me thinking about the wars of the current century, including the so-called "Culture War." And I wondered if, in this "Culture War," the "issues" that we are all so concerned about are not the things which are of primary importance to us, either as Christians or as people of good will who do not call themselves "Christians." It hit me that, perhaps, what we need to be concerned about most is the enmity that has arisen in our country among people of differing viewpoints. Maybe what we need to really pay attention to is the way our opinions -- even about important things -- cause us to view one another and treat one another. So, if your neighbor -- and I am speaking of "neighbor" in the sense that Jesus did -- is a Democrat and you are a Republican, you need to treat that neighbor with respect and charity. You need to treat his or her opinions -- which he or she holds as dear as you hold yours -- with respect and charity. Because, at least according to the wonderful priest who gave this inspiring homily, our sin can be looked upon as having its beginnings in our lack of loving kindness in our attitudes, words, and actions towards others. Because it is this lack of loving kindness that leads to enmity between people. It is this lack of loving kindness that leads to war, including "Culture War."
And when the "bad guy downstairs" sees us fighting, full of impatience and intolerance and anger and hate, I bet he is laughing his ugly little ass off. Because we are playing right into his ugly little hands. Even when -- and maybe especially if -- we are convinced that our opinions are the morally correct ones.
So, let's pray a little bit for peace. Peace in our own hearts and minds. Peace with our neighbor -- whatever his or her religious or political ideology might be.
There is a wonderful priest at our parish. He is older, and full of wisdom and life experience. I love his homilies. They always leave me feeling peaceful. A few weeks ago he said (I was so impressed that I wrote it down in my checkbook register during his homily), "Sin is that which causes enmity between people." And then he said, "War is rooted in sin."
This started me thinking about the wars of the current century, including the so-called "Culture War." And I wondered if, in this "Culture War," the "issues" that we are all so concerned about are not the things which are of primary importance to us, either as Christians or as people of good will who do not call themselves "Christians." It hit me that, perhaps, what we need to be concerned about most is the enmity that has arisen in our country among people of differing viewpoints. Maybe what we need to really pay attention to is the way our opinions -- even about important things -- cause us to view one another and treat one another. So, if your neighbor -- and I am speaking of "neighbor" in the sense that Jesus did -- is a Democrat and you are a Republican, you need to treat that neighbor with respect and charity. You need to treat his or her opinions -- which he or she holds as dear as you hold yours -- with respect and charity. Because, at least according to the wonderful priest who gave this inspiring homily, our sin can be looked upon as having its beginnings in our lack of loving kindness in our attitudes, words, and actions towards others. Because it is this lack of loving kindness that leads to enmity between people. It is this lack of loving kindness that leads to war, including "Culture War."
And when the "bad guy downstairs" sees us fighting, full of impatience and intolerance and anger and hate, I bet he is laughing his ugly little ass off. Because we are playing right into his ugly little hands. Even when -- and maybe especially if -- we are convinced that our opinions are the morally correct ones.
So, let's pray a little bit for peace. Peace in our own hearts and minds. Peace with our neighbor -- whatever his or her religious or political ideology might be.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Salt, Leaven, And Light
As we are all well-aware, unless we are a hermit, there is much political debate going on concerning certain "hot-button" issues. The things going on in Texas right now are especially engrossing. And the Catholic Church as an institution and Catholics as individuals have thrown themselves into the fray. I'm not saying that they shouldn't, but the frantic attitude of some of them disturbs me a little bit. It's like they think the only way to stop Western Civilization from collapsing is through their political activity.
Again, I'm not saying political activity by Catholics -- or by anybody else -- is wrong. But, watching the drama swirling about me has led me to contemplate a few things about which Jesus spoke -- especially his words telling us that we should be "salt," "leaven," and "light" in the world.
As I think about these three things, I am struck by their characteristics, especially in the way Our Lord uses His imagery. And this blog post summarizes my ponderings. Take it or leave it. As you wish.
Salt. It enhances the flavor of our food. But, we use it sparingly. Accidentally put too much into your recipe and said recipe is ruined. An over-abundance of this wonderful substance doesn't enhance -- but totally masks -- the wonderful flavors of many of our favorite foods. And I think about this when I think about Catholic political action. If it is too heavy-handed, it doesn't work. We are called to be a gentle presence. Subtle. Like salt, when used properly. Maybe overwhelming people with our Catholicism is like putting way too much salt in our chocolate chip cookies. It only makes people gag.
Leaven. Like salt, it is used sparingly in cooking. But, just a small amount makes the dough rise dramatically. Maybe we should think about this in our interaction with others, in our political activity. We don't need to overwhelm everybody with our "correctness." We don't need to act like steamrollers. We don't need to scream and shout and flail. We can be like the yeast in the bread -- mixed, almost imperceptively, throughout the dough, but having a powerful effect. What type of an effect? A rising, a lifting, an enhancing of the whole body of the dough. The dough is kept intact and whole, growing larger and lighter. Not imploding or exploding our collapsing.
Light. Jesus speaks of a lamp on a lampstand. When I reflect on this image, I think of a dark home sitting on a hill in the night. The lamp is lit. What type of light does it give off? Is it the light of the high-beams of an oncoming mack truck, blinding you as you try to drive on a winding road at night? Is it the glare of fluorescent lights in an impersonal office? No. It is a warm, inviting light. It is the kind of light that says, "Come in and rest a while. Have a cup of tea and a cookie and a chat. I know you are weary. Let me offer you my hospitality." It is also the kind of light that says, "In my conversation with you, I will listen to your concerns. I will hear your heart. I will respect you and care for you." Maybe we should think about being this kind of light when we deal with those on "the other side of the aisle."
Why? Because "those on the other side of the aisle" are not evil people. They have good intentions and good hearts and good will. They are honest and hard-working and intelligent. They would help you out if you were in a jam. Maybe they even have something to teach you. And we need to recognize these things, or we are going to tear our country, our culture, our civilization -- and each other -- apart. And that doesn't seem very "Catholic" to me.
Again, I'm not saying political activity by Catholics -- or by anybody else -- is wrong. But, watching the drama swirling about me has led me to contemplate a few things about which Jesus spoke -- especially his words telling us that we should be "salt," "leaven," and "light" in the world.
As I think about these three things, I am struck by their characteristics, especially in the way Our Lord uses His imagery. And this blog post summarizes my ponderings. Take it or leave it. As you wish.
Salt. It enhances the flavor of our food. But, we use it sparingly. Accidentally put too much into your recipe and said recipe is ruined. An over-abundance of this wonderful substance doesn't enhance -- but totally masks -- the wonderful flavors of many of our favorite foods. And I think about this when I think about Catholic political action. If it is too heavy-handed, it doesn't work. We are called to be a gentle presence. Subtle. Like salt, when used properly. Maybe overwhelming people with our Catholicism is like putting way too much salt in our chocolate chip cookies. It only makes people gag.
Leaven. Like salt, it is used sparingly in cooking. But, just a small amount makes the dough rise dramatically. Maybe we should think about this in our interaction with others, in our political activity. We don't need to overwhelm everybody with our "correctness." We don't need to act like steamrollers. We don't need to scream and shout and flail. We can be like the yeast in the bread -- mixed, almost imperceptively, throughout the dough, but having a powerful effect. What type of an effect? A rising, a lifting, an enhancing of the whole body of the dough. The dough is kept intact and whole, growing larger and lighter. Not imploding or exploding our collapsing.
Light. Jesus speaks of a lamp on a lampstand. When I reflect on this image, I think of a dark home sitting on a hill in the night. The lamp is lit. What type of light does it give off? Is it the light of the high-beams of an oncoming mack truck, blinding you as you try to drive on a winding road at night? Is it the glare of fluorescent lights in an impersonal office? No. It is a warm, inviting light. It is the kind of light that says, "Come in and rest a while. Have a cup of tea and a cookie and a chat. I know you are weary. Let me offer you my hospitality." It is also the kind of light that says, "In my conversation with you, I will listen to your concerns. I will hear your heart. I will respect you and care for you." Maybe we should think about being this kind of light when we deal with those on "the other side of the aisle."
Why? Because "those on the other side of the aisle" are not evil people. They have good intentions and good hearts and good will. They are honest and hard-working and intelligent. They would help you out if you were in a jam. Maybe they even have something to teach you. And we need to recognize these things, or we are going to tear our country, our culture, our civilization -- and each other -- apart. And that doesn't seem very "Catholic" to me.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
The Little Texan In Her Pink Shoes
Did y'all see Texan Wendy Davis filibustering a couple nights ago? It was a pretty awesome sight to behold, whatever your opinions on women's issues may be.
I am the same age as Wendy. She was born one month and six days after me. I was reading a bit about her, as I had never heard of her before her filibuster, and she is a pretty incredible person. She married and had a baby as a teen, got divorced, became a paralegal, worked her way through college and law school, and went on to have a fantastic career. If I had tried to do all those things, I would have had a nervous breakdown. My hat is off to you, Wendy!
And as I watched this darling lady in her pink shoes and the reactions she got from the crowd and on Twitter, I tried to just quiet myself and ponder things.
This is what I have pondered.
Yes, I am a Catholic. Yes, I am a Republican. I take being a Catholic pretty seriously. Being a Republican? Not quite so much. Though I appreciate politics and understand their importance, I do not possess enough of the ideology of either of the major parties to be entirely faithful to one or the other. And I have actually switched party affiliation more than once. I may do it again.
What do I like about the Republicans? I have generally been drawn to the ideas of limited government and subsidiarity. I also liked Reagan a great deal. If you are a Democrat, you will probably gag at this, but Reagan was to my generation what Obama is to the current generation of younger people. Things pretty much sucked in the late 70's, and Reagan gave us his version of "hope" and "change." He had a positive attitude, a good sense of humor, and he was unflinchingly brave in the face of the things we viewed as threats to our freedom. Of course, he also scared the crap out of a lot of people. I understand that. But, I liked him. I still do. I know he made mistakes. I know he was not perfect. I am not defending everything he did. But, he sort of gave our nation a much-needed kick in the pants and a shot in the arm and a little bit of pride and confidence where it was very lacking. If you don't believe me, go and watch that new movie about the Iranian hostage crisis that stars Ben Affleck.
As a Catholic, though, I also appreciate many, many things about the Democratic party. I am quite sympathetic to their ideals of social justice and their desire for a strong social safety net. And -- having children in their 20's who are struggling to begin careers in the current economy -- I am really starting to appreciate their desire for some type of national health insurance system. And I have to say that "Obamacare" has been a Godsend for us -- especially since my 23-year-old daughter has many health problems. I don't know what we would have done to affordably provide for her healthcare needs -- especially considering the current state of the job market for young people -- without the new laws.
Why have I told you these things? It is so that you will have more understanding of where I am coming from when it comes to my thoughts about Wendy and her pink shoes and standing with her and all.
I have to admit that my first reaction in watching Wendy was to "root" for the Republicans. Then I started to pay more attention and learn more about what the GOP members had done. It seems like they basically tried to throw a Hail Mary pass at the last possible moment. They said that their proposed laws would protect the health and safety of women. Frankly, I don't really buy that. I think they were just trying to get abortion clinics shut down. And this seems, to me, like a dishonest, heartless way to reduce abortion rates. And I don't think it will protect the health of women, either. Because, in the current environment, given the current state of our culture, women will not say, "Oh, I am pregnant and I am not happy about it. But, I will just have this baby and all will be well." They probably won't do that. They'll most likely try to find some way to get an abortion, anyway -- a way that will probably be less safe than if the current clinics had stayed open. And they will get angry. They will get angry at the mean men who appear to be bullying them. They will get angry at the heartless and ignorant men who keep saying things like, "A woman's body has a way to shut those things down." It's like these Republicans just attacked a relatively peaceful hive with a flame thrower. Way to burn bridges, GOP members.
So, here we have this image. An image of a little lady in pink shoes -- a woman who was a teen mom herself, who chose to have her baby in an era when she could have chosen otherwise -- facing down these hostile people. Even I -- Catholic that I am -- was quite moved by this. And now I hear that the governor has called a special session to go through the whole issue again. Hello, Governor. You think Wendy is going to back down this time? I don't think so. She's probably in training right now to take you on.
At this point, I have probably succeeded in alienating practically everyone who is reading this. Sorry about that. But, if you care to read on, I will tell you what I think would be a more positive approach to this whole thing.
I would like to see the people on "both sides of the aisle" respecting each others concerns and appreciating the merits of each others arguments. I would like to see the Republicans being honest about their goals and measured in their approach. I would like to see the Democrats trying to understand that most Republicans don't want to oppress women. (Well, at least the ones in California don't. I'm not sure about the ones in Texas.) I think the governor should cancel the special session he called and wait until the next regular legislative session, when all of this should be taken up in a thoughtful, respectful, unhurried way. I want to see everybody calm down and deal with the issue in a rational manner. If that is possible in Texas. ;-)
I am the same age as Wendy. She was born one month and six days after me. I was reading a bit about her, as I had never heard of her before her filibuster, and she is a pretty incredible person. She married and had a baby as a teen, got divorced, became a paralegal, worked her way through college and law school, and went on to have a fantastic career. If I had tried to do all those things, I would have had a nervous breakdown. My hat is off to you, Wendy!
And as I watched this darling lady in her pink shoes and the reactions she got from the crowd and on Twitter, I tried to just quiet myself and ponder things.
This is what I have pondered.
Yes, I am a Catholic. Yes, I am a Republican. I take being a Catholic pretty seriously. Being a Republican? Not quite so much. Though I appreciate politics and understand their importance, I do not possess enough of the ideology of either of the major parties to be entirely faithful to one or the other. And I have actually switched party affiliation more than once. I may do it again.
What do I like about the Republicans? I have generally been drawn to the ideas of limited government and subsidiarity. I also liked Reagan a great deal. If you are a Democrat, you will probably gag at this, but Reagan was to my generation what Obama is to the current generation of younger people. Things pretty much sucked in the late 70's, and Reagan gave us his version of "hope" and "change." He had a positive attitude, a good sense of humor, and he was unflinchingly brave in the face of the things we viewed as threats to our freedom. Of course, he also scared the crap out of a lot of people. I understand that. But, I liked him. I still do. I know he made mistakes. I know he was not perfect. I am not defending everything he did. But, he sort of gave our nation a much-needed kick in the pants and a shot in the arm and a little bit of pride and confidence where it was very lacking. If you don't believe me, go and watch that new movie about the Iranian hostage crisis that stars Ben Affleck.
As a Catholic, though, I also appreciate many, many things about the Democratic party. I am quite sympathetic to their ideals of social justice and their desire for a strong social safety net. And -- having children in their 20's who are struggling to begin careers in the current economy -- I am really starting to appreciate their desire for some type of national health insurance system. And I have to say that "Obamacare" has been a Godsend for us -- especially since my 23-year-old daughter has many health problems. I don't know what we would have done to affordably provide for her healthcare needs -- especially considering the current state of the job market for young people -- without the new laws.
Why have I told you these things? It is so that you will have more understanding of where I am coming from when it comes to my thoughts about Wendy and her pink shoes and standing with her and all.
I have to admit that my first reaction in watching Wendy was to "root" for the Republicans. Then I started to pay more attention and learn more about what the GOP members had done. It seems like they basically tried to throw a Hail Mary pass at the last possible moment. They said that their proposed laws would protect the health and safety of women. Frankly, I don't really buy that. I think they were just trying to get abortion clinics shut down. And this seems, to me, like a dishonest, heartless way to reduce abortion rates. And I don't think it will protect the health of women, either. Because, in the current environment, given the current state of our culture, women will not say, "Oh, I am pregnant and I am not happy about it. But, I will just have this baby and all will be well." They probably won't do that. They'll most likely try to find some way to get an abortion, anyway -- a way that will probably be less safe than if the current clinics had stayed open. And they will get angry. They will get angry at the mean men who appear to be bullying them. They will get angry at the heartless and ignorant men who keep saying things like, "A woman's body has a way to shut those things down." It's like these Republicans just attacked a relatively peaceful hive with a flame thrower. Way to burn bridges, GOP members.
So, here we have this image. An image of a little lady in pink shoes -- a woman who was a teen mom herself, who chose to have her baby in an era when she could have chosen otherwise -- facing down these hostile people. Even I -- Catholic that I am -- was quite moved by this. And now I hear that the governor has called a special session to go through the whole issue again. Hello, Governor. You think Wendy is going to back down this time? I don't think so. She's probably in training right now to take you on.
At this point, I have probably succeeded in alienating practically everyone who is reading this. Sorry about that. But, if you care to read on, I will tell you what I think would be a more positive approach to this whole thing.
I would like to see the people on "both sides of the aisle" respecting each others concerns and appreciating the merits of each others arguments. I would like to see the Republicans being honest about their goals and measured in their approach. I would like to see the Democrats trying to understand that most Republicans don't want to oppress women. (Well, at least the ones in California don't. I'm not sure about the ones in Texas.) I think the governor should cancel the special session he called and wait until the next regular legislative session, when all of this should be taken up in a thoughtful, respectful, unhurried way. I want to see everybody calm down and deal with the issue in a rational manner. If that is possible in Texas. ;-)
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Why I Will Not Fight A "Culture War"
"Culture War"
A pretty popular term right now. As I understand it, this basically means the Conservatives pitted against the Progressives over whose values will prevail in society -- both culturally and legally.
Of course, there is always a push/pull in every society. I mean, let's face it, no two people are exactly alike. So, when you put millions of individuals together, you're going to have lots of disagreements on how things "should be." And this, to me, is fine and natural. There should be discussion and debate. But, not a war. At least, not in my opinion. Especially when there is plenty of room for negotiation.
Pope John Paul II spoke out a lot against war. He spoke against the war in Iraq. He spoke against war, in general. He spoke of the harm caused by war to innocent people. He spoke of civilian casualties. He spoke of men and women in uniform and how their lives should not be endangered without truly just cause. He spoke of how both sides in a war -- both the victor and the defeated -- suffer. Yes, he said even the victors are damaged by war. This means, to me, that when you are in the position of getting your way (and keeping it) through force, you are not actually gaining the cooperation of those you defeat. And those you defeat -- who are kept "in their place" against their will -- are not just going to roll over and adopt your positions. They are going to try to figure out a way to rise up and put you down, in turn. This just leads to more hatred, more conflict, more war. John Paul II argued that negotiation should be the primary means of resolving conflict; and he stated that negotiation is often neglected or not given enough of a chance to succeed. What are the advantages of negotiation? Negotiation seeks to allow everybody as much freedom of choice as reasonably possible. People are required, through negotiation, to try to see the individuals on the "other side of the table" as human beings with free will, dignity, hopes, dreams, and needs. In a negotiation, everybody has to give something up in order to gain something. There is not a "winner" and a "loser." The needs and desires of all -- even of those you disagree with -- have to be taken into account. And this helps all of us to remember and respect the humanity of those from whom we differ.
You may be thinking to yourself, "Well, the Culture War is not a literal war, like World War II or the war in Iraq." But, I disagree. I think a lot of the same dynamics exist in the Culture War as in a war in which actual bullets and bombs are employed. What are some of these dynamics? First of all, each side starts to separate from the other -- socially, geographically. How many barbecues have you been to lately where Dems and Reps freely mingle and enjoy the company of one another? How often nowadays do we see neighborhoods -- or even whole towns, cities, and states -- that are predominantly of one political ideology or another? And after the separation comes the demonization. We start thinking of each other as "enemies." We can't listen to each others opinions -- especially via the internet, the radio, or the TV -- without becoming apoplectic. And this leads to more separation and more demonization. It is easy to demonize people with which you don't have to personally interact. And once we separate and demonize, it is easier and easier to hate. It becomes easier and easier to want to "put the other side down" by some kind of force. It becomes easier to believe that making everybody live the way that you deem "correct" -- the way that makes you feel comfortable -- is right and just. It becomes simpler to make "straw man" arguments out of the ideas of your opponents, so that you can joke about them and ridicule them, instead of giving them the respectful and intelligent consideration they deserve. And all of this does just as much damage to us as individuals and as a society as a literal war -- not physically, perhaps -- but, psychologically and spiritually.
What is the solution? Negotiation -- as John Paul II advocated. Each side in this "Culture War" needs to listen fairly and openly to the concerns of the other. Then we need to make room for each other, even if it might make us a bit uncomfortable to do so. I have been a fairly conservative person most of my life (even though I am a bit of a hippie on the inside), and it concerns me when I hear "my" side say, too often, that this, that, or the other thing is "non-negotiable." It just seems like we say it too much. And then the progressive people feel threatened and disrespected and they don't really feel like dealing with us and all our "non-negotiable items." And I don't really blame them. We come across as a bit obnoxious and intolerant sometimes, fellow conservatives.
Also, frankly, I really like the idealism of the Progressives. And the vast majority of Progressives are lovely people, who are kind and charitable, who are just and merciful, who are great fun. And I count many of them as my good friends. I'm not going to have a war with them. I will give them room to follow their consciences. And I trust that they will give me room to follow mine. Also, our consciences have more things in common than not, because we all strive to be people of goodwill and moral integrity, even if some of our opinions differ.
One final thought: When we war with one another culturally, there is something we often forget. We forget about the actual people whose choices and orientations and lifestyles we are putting under our little microscopes. For example, in the vociferous and often unkind debate about gay marriage, conservatives sometimes seem to forget that there are actual gay couples who genuinely love each other. There are actual gay individuals and couples with beautiful children. And these people love their children just as much as I love mine. We need to avoid hurting these people by our words and attitudes. We need to respect these families. We need to be charitable.
As one of the saints once said, "In all things, in ALL things -- charity."
A pretty popular term right now. As I understand it, this basically means the Conservatives pitted against the Progressives over whose values will prevail in society -- both culturally and legally.
Of course, there is always a push/pull in every society. I mean, let's face it, no two people are exactly alike. So, when you put millions of individuals together, you're going to have lots of disagreements on how things "should be." And this, to me, is fine and natural. There should be discussion and debate. But, not a war. At least, not in my opinion. Especially when there is plenty of room for negotiation.
Pope John Paul II spoke out a lot against war. He spoke against the war in Iraq. He spoke against war, in general. He spoke of the harm caused by war to innocent people. He spoke of civilian casualties. He spoke of men and women in uniform and how their lives should not be endangered without truly just cause. He spoke of how both sides in a war -- both the victor and the defeated -- suffer. Yes, he said even the victors are damaged by war. This means, to me, that when you are in the position of getting your way (and keeping it) through force, you are not actually gaining the cooperation of those you defeat. And those you defeat -- who are kept "in their place" against their will -- are not just going to roll over and adopt your positions. They are going to try to figure out a way to rise up and put you down, in turn. This just leads to more hatred, more conflict, more war. John Paul II argued that negotiation should be the primary means of resolving conflict; and he stated that negotiation is often neglected or not given enough of a chance to succeed. What are the advantages of negotiation? Negotiation seeks to allow everybody as much freedom of choice as reasonably possible. People are required, through negotiation, to try to see the individuals on the "other side of the table" as human beings with free will, dignity, hopes, dreams, and needs. In a negotiation, everybody has to give something up in order to gain something. There is not a "winner" and a "loser." The needs and desires of all -- even of those you disagree with -- have to be taken into account. And this helps all of us to remember and respect the humanity of those from whom we differ.
You may be thinking to yourself, "Well, the Culture War is not a literal war, like World War II or the war in Iraq." But, I disagree. I think a lot of the same dynamics exist in the Culture War as in a war in which actual bullets and bombs are employed. What are some of these dynamics? First of all, each side starts to separate from the other -- socially, geographically. How many barbecues have you been to lately where Dems and Reps freely mingle and enjoy the company of one another? How often nowadays do we see neighborhoods -- or even whole towns, cities, and states -- that are predominantly of one political ideology or another? And after the separation comes the demonization. We start thinking of each other as "enemies." We can't listen to each others opinions -- especially via the internet, the radio, or the TV -- without becoming apoplectic. And this leads to more separation and more demonization. It is easy to demonize people with which you don't have to personally interact. And once we separate and demonize, it is easier and easier to hate. It becomes easier and easier to want to "put the other side down" by some kind of force. It becomes easier to believe that making everybody live the way that you deem "correct" -- the way that makes you feel comfortable -- is right and just. It becomes simpler to make "straw man" arguments out of the ideas of your opponents, so that you can joke about them and ridicule them, instead of giving them the respectful and intelligent consideration they deserve. And all of this does just as much damage to us as individuals and as a society as a literal war -- not physically, perhaps -- but, psychologically and spiritually.
What is the solution? Negotiation -- as John Paul II advocated. Each side in this "Culture War" needs to listen fairly and openly to the concerns of the other. Then we need to make room for each other, even if it might make us a bit uncomfortable to do so. I have been a fairly conservative person most of my life (even though I am a bit of a hippie on the inside), and it concerns me when I hear "my" side say, too often, that this, that, or the other thing is "non-negotiable." It just seems like we say it too much. And then the progressive people feel threatened and disrespected and they don't really feel like dealing with us and all our "non-negotiable items." And I don't really blame them. We come across as a bit obnoxious and intolerant sometimes, fellow conservatives.
Also, frankly, I really like the idealism of the Progressives. And the vast majority of Progressives are lovely people, who are kind and charitable, who are just and merciful, who are great fun. And I count many of them as my good friends. I'm not going to have a war with them. I will give them room to follow their consciences. And I trust that they will give me room to follow mine. Also, our consciences have more things in common than not, because we all strive to be people of goodwill and moral integrity, even if some of our opinions differ.
One final thought: When we war with one another culturally, there is something we often forget. We forget about the actual people whose choices and orientations and lifestyles we are putting under our little microscopes. For example, in the vociferous and often unkind debate about gay marriage, conservatives sometimes seem to forget that there are actual gay couples who genuinely love each other. There are actual gay individuals and couples with beautiful children. And these people love their children just as much as I love mine. We need to avoid hurting these people by our words and attitudes. We need to respect these families. We need to be charitable.
As one of the saints once said, "In all things, in ALL things -- charity."
Sunday, April 28, 2013
How the Republicans have the Catholics by the...
...balls.
I went to early Mass this morning with my daughter Bridget. She likes to go to early Mass. And since, because of her health issues, she is unable to drive, I went with her. I usually go to a later Mass, as I am no longer much of a morning person. In my youth, I was very much a morning person. Not anymore. And not being a morning person combined with being at early Mass made me a little cranky, which made me start to think about the topic of this post. I have thought about it other times -- when I was not cranky. But, my crankiness in combination with my middle-aged broad menopausal-ness have given me the audacity to actually write about it.
As we all know, if we have been paying any attention whatsoever, is that the Republican party has essentially become the party of the those who oppose legalized abortion and the Democratic party has essentially become the party of those who support legalized abortion.
The Catholic Church teaches very strongly against abortion -- legal or otherwise. It is not my purpose in this post to discuss this teaching, but what this teaching has wrought politically in our country.
When my parents were young, most Catholics were Democrats. My mother explained to me when I was growing up that the Democratic party was the party of the "working person" -- it supported labor rights and a social safety net for people who worked hard for a modest living. And most Catholics were working people. Hence, most of them were Democrats.
As time went on, the Democrats began to support many other ideas that are very "Catholic." The Democratic party still supports a strong social safety net for the poor and the elderly, and champions the right of working people to a living wage and a safe work environment. It also views access to adequate healthcare, housing, and education as essential to human dignity; sees war as something to be engaged in only as a very last resort; promotes the welcoming of the immigrant; and encourages us all to work in solidarity to form a civil society that allows for all people to live according to their beliefs.
The Democratic party also supports abortion rights.
And herein lies the conundrum for Catholics -- and this is how the Republicans have them by the balls.
Because the Republican party does not support abortion rights, and because many in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church have made statements to the effect that the abortion issue should be seen as the top priority for Catholic voters, a lot of Catholic voters will vote for Republicans based primarily -- or even solely -- on this issue. I have personally known Catholics who vote this way. I have also personally known Catholics who feel that you are endangering your immortal soul if you vote for a pro-choice Democrat -- even if you vote for that person based on issues other than abortion.
But, there is a danger to this. It basically gives the Republicans a pass to potentially get away with what I will call "crap" without a whole lot of scrutiny by the Catholics. I have, at times, seen Catholics almost turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to some of the objectionable things Republicans say and do as long as those Republicans "toe the line" as far as abortion is concerned. And this worries me. It worries me because I think the Republicans are very well aware of this situation, and I think that at least some of them take advantage of it from time to time.
Please know that I realize I am generalizing a great deal in this post. Most Catholics are not mindless dupes. Maybe some politicians are people of good character. I do not mean to say that Republicans are war-mongers who don't care about poor people. I do not mean to say that Democrats are all selfless do-gooders. There are even Republicans who are pro-choice and Democrats who oppose legalized abortion. My main purpose here is to point out the danger -- no matter what political party you belong to -- of having one issue become so overwhelmingly important that it leaves you vulnerable to those who might manipulate you to their own ends.
I went to early Mass this morning with my daughter Bridget. She likes to go to early Mass. And since, because of her health issues, she is unable to drive, I went with her. I usually go to a later Mass, as I am no longer much of a morning person. In my youth, I was very much a morning person. Not anymore. And not being a morning person combined with being at early Mass made me a little cranky, which made me start to think about the topic of this post. I have thought about it other times -- when I was not cranky. But, my crankiness in combination with my middle-aged broad menopausal-ness have given me the audacity to actually write about it.
As we all know, if we have been paying any attention whatsoever, is that the Republican party has essentially become the party of the those who oppose legalized abortion and the Democratic party has essentially become the party of those who support legalized abortion.
The Catholic Church teaches very strongly against abortion -- legal or otherwise. It is not my purpose in this post to discuss this teaching, but what this teaching has wrought politically in our country.
When my parents were young, most Catholics were Democrats. My mother explained to me when I was growing up that the Democratic party was the party of the "working person" -- it supported labor rights and a social safety net for people who worked hard for a modest living. And most Catholics were working people. Hence, most of them were Democrats.
As time went on, the Democrats began to support many other ideas that are very "Catholic." The Democratic party still supports a strong social safety net for the poor and the elderly, and champions the right of working people to a living wage and a safe work environment. It also views access to adequate healthcare, housing, and education as essential to human dignity; sees war as something to be engaged in only as a very last resort; promotes the welcoming of the immigrant; and encourages us all to work in solidarity to form a civil society that allows for all people to live according to their beliefs.
The Democratic party also supports abortion rights.
And herein lies the conundrum for Catholics -- and this is how the Republicans have them by the balls.
Because the Republican party does not support abortion rights, and because many in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church have made statements to the effect that the abortion issue should be seen as the top priority for Catholic voters, a lot of Catholic voters will vote for Republicans based primarily -- or even solely -- on this issue. I have personally known Catholics who vote this way. I have also personally known Catholics who feel that you are endangering your immortal soul if you vote for a pro-choice Democrat -- even if you vote for that person based on issues other than abortion.
But, there is a danger to this. It basically gives the Republicans a pass to potentially get away with what I will call "crap" without a whole lot of scrutiny by the Catholics. I have, at times, seen Catholics almost turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to some of the objectionable things Republicans say and do as long as those Republicans "toe the line" as far as abortion is concerned. And this worries me. It worries me because I think the Republicans are very well aware of this situation, and I think that at least some of them take advantage of it from time to time.
Please know that I realize I am generalizing a great deal in this post. Most Catholics are not mindless dupes. Maybe some politicians are people of good character. I do not mean to say that Republicans are war-mongers who don't care about poor people. I do not mean to say that Democrats are all selfless do-gooders. There are even Republicans who are pro-choice and Democrats who oppose legalized abortion. My main purpose here is to point out the danger -- no matter what political party you belong to -- of having one issue become so overwhelmingly important that it leaves you vulnerable to those who might manipulate you to their own ends.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Why I Would Volunteer For Ben McKenzie's Political Campaign...
...even though I am a Republican. And he -- clearly -- is not.
Why am I discussing this?
Late last week, a conservative-type politician Tweeted some really lame-ass thing about gun control and the Boston tragedy. Now, Mr. McKenzie did not comment on this lame-ass statement directly. At least on Twitter. What he did -- and the only thing he did -- was Retweet the guy's apology. I suppose you could interpret Mr. McKenzie's response in more than one way. But, I thought it got his feeings about the whole debacle across in a classy manner. So, I sent out a couple of Tweets to Mr. McKenzie expressing my admiration for his handling of the situation and telling him that I would be happy to volunteer for his campaign if he ever decides to run for public office.
Yesterday, I noticed that somebody with a Blackberry had read several of my more political blog posts. Nobody with a Blackberry had ever read my blog before. Also -- who uses a Blackberry, anymore? I researched that question and discovered that, generally, people heavily involved in politics and business still do. So, I was wondering if some political-type had seen my Tweet and wondered why a Republican would want to work on the campaign of a Democrat. Especially a Democrat who -- on the face of it -- seems pretty dang liberal. Perhaps this politically curious person looked at my Twitter bio and discovered there the link to my blog and clicked on it.
So, this post is for you, Blackberry Person.
I am going to explain why this Republican would volunteer for Mr. McKenzie's campaign.
First of all, it is NOT:
1. because of "The O.C.,"
2. because of "SouthLAnd," or
3. because he is a little bit nice-looking.
Rather, it is because of the following:
As a Catholic, maybe I have never been a tried-and-true Republican. In fact, on many issues of social justice, I lean more towards the Democrats. And I always have. But, I also have to say that I am unhappy with what I am seeing in the Republican Party as of late. For example, I find the whole Tea Party thing to be out-of-touch with reality. Wake up, people. Getting rid of the Department of Education or the Fed would have disastrous consequences. It also seems to me that the Republican Party has gotten itself too enmeshed with religious groups. I do believe that religious groups should have a voice in society -- a public voice. But, the level of involvement of certain religious groups in politics is beginning to seem a bit inappropriate to me. We do have a pluralistic society. Frankly, I believe that we need to come up with a way of living with each other in our country that, as much as possible, respects the consciences of all peoples, the sincerely-held ideas of all people of good-will -- religious and secular, alike. Maybe we will make some mistakes along the way. But, perhaps it's worth a try.
And this is where Mr. McKenzie comes in. From what I have heard him say and seen him do, his liberalism seems to come from a place of compassion, from a genuine concern for both the good of individuals and the Common Good. Objectively, he is well-educated. He holds a double major from UVa in foreign relations and economics (I believe). He seems to think before he speaks. He seems to think before he acts. He seems to think, period. Also, I was impressed by his behavior in the last election. What he did and said publicly was positive and uplifting. He even made me feel uplifted, even though I voted for a different person. Why did he make me feel uplifted? Because of his genuine belief that we can move forward in our country, making it a better place for all. He and I may not agree on all the methods that should be used to make our country better, but at least he believes it can be better. And, along with that, he appears to be a fair person who would be able to listen to and work with people of different ideas -- at least reasonable people of different ideas. Yes, from a couple things that he has said, he is probably rather passionate in a political discussion. But, he appears to be an honest guy, a "straight-shooter," so I can handle the passion.
So, even though we may not agree on everything (even some very important things), I believe Mr. McKenzie is a person of excellent character, possessing those vital qualities necessary to lead our country forward -- integrity, compassion, honesty, passion, goodwill, intelligence, and a good grasp of the realities of our day. And this is why I would volunteer for his campaign -- because I believe that people with those qualities should have a chance to represent us in government, even if those people are not exactly like me. That is the beauty of our political system. That is the beauty of our country.
Why am I discussing this?
Late last week, a conservative-type politician Tweeted some really lame-ass thing about gun control and the Boston tragedy. Now, Mr. McKenzie did not comment on this lame-ass statement directly. At least on Twitter. What he did -- and the only thing he did -- was Retweet the guy's apology. I suppose you could interpret Mr. McKenzie's response in more than one way. But, I thought it got his feeings about the whole debacle across in a classy manner. So, I sent out a couple of Tweets to Mr. McKenzie expressing my admiration for his handling of the situation and telling him that I would be happy to volunteer for his campaign if he ever decides to run for public office.
Yesterday, I noticed that somebody with a Blackberry had read several of my more political blog posts. Nobody with a Blackberry had ever read my blog before. Also -- who uses a Blackberry, anymore? I researched that question and discovered that, generally, people heavily involved in politics and business still do. So, I was wondering if some political-type had seen my Tweet and wondered why a Republican would want to work on the campaign of a Democrat. Especially a Democrat who -- on the face of it -- seems pretty dang liberal. Perhaps this politically curious person looked at my Twitter bio and discovered there the link to my blog and clicked on it.
So, this post is for you, Blackberry Person.
I am going to explain why this Republican would volunteer for Mr. McKenzie's campaign.
First of all, it is NOT:
1. because of "The O.C.,"
2. because of "SouthLAnd," or
3. because he is a little bit nice-looking.
Rather, it is because of the following:
As a Catholic, maybe I have never been a tried-and-true Republican. In fact, on many issues of social justice, I lean more towards the Democrats. And I always have. But, I also have to say that I am unhappy with what I am seeing in the Republican Party as of late. For example, I find the whole Tea Party thing to be out-of-touch with reality. Wake up, people. Getting rid of the Department of Education or the Fed would have disastrous consequences. It also seems to me that the Republican Party has gotten itself too enmeshed with religious groups. I do believe that religious groups should have a voice in society -- a public voice. But, the level of involvement of certain religious groups in politics is beginning to seem a bit inappropriate to me. We do have a pluralistic society. Frankly, I believe that we need to come up with a way of living with each other in our country that, as much as possible, respects the consciences of all peoples, the sincerely-held ideas of all people of good-will -- religious and secular, alike. Maybe we will make some mistakes along the way. But, perhaps it's worth a try.
And this is where Mr. McKenzie comes in. From what I have heard him say and seen him do, his liberalism seems to come from a place of compassion, from a genuine concern for both the good of individuals and the Common Good. Objectively, he is well-educated. He holds a double major from UVa in foreign relations and economics (I believe). He seems to think before he speaks. He seems to think before he acts. He seems to think, period. Also, I was impressed by his behavior in the last election. What he did and said publicly was positive and uplifting. He even made me feel uplifted, even though I voted for a different person. Why did he make me feel uplifted? Because of his genuine belief that we can move forward in our country, making it a better place for all. He and I may not agree on all the methods that should be used to make our country better, but at least he believes it can be better. And, along with that, he appears to be a fair person who would be able to listen to and work with people of different ideas -- at least reasonable people of different ideas. Yes, from a couple things that he has said, he is probably rather passionate in a political discussion. But, he appears to be an honest guy, a "straight-shooter," so I can handle the passion.
So, even though we may not agree on everything (even some very important things), I believe Mr. McKenzie is a person of excellent character, possessing those vital qualities necessary to lead our country forward -- integrity, compassion, honesty, passion, goodwill, intelligence, and a good grasp of the realities of our day. And this is why I would volunteer for his campaign -- because I believe that people with those qualities should have a chance to represent us in government, even if those people are not exactly like me. That is the beauty of our political system. That is the beauty of our country.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
To My Girls
Dear Andrea and Bridget,
I know you already know these things. But, I thought I'd just write them down, for whatever they're worth. Please don't feel naggety-nagged. This little exercise is perhaps more for my own benefit than for yours.
You are both now college graduates, entering the world of work and the adventure known as the "rest of your life." I know it is exciting, but also scary and confusing and difficult.
You have both been provided with solid, Catholic higher educations. This is something both your father and I wanted for you, and we are so happy that you wanted them, too. You have both truly taken full advantage of the educational opportunities afforded you. You have achieved the twin goals of majoring in worthy subject areas and learning your faith at an advanced level. And your faith now permeates all you do, in both your personal and work lives. I see this every day. And I am so very happy that your faith is a consolation to you. It is not a burden. The Lord should never be a burden. Always remember that the Lord loves you and is on your side. Too many people today -- even Catholic people -- seem to view the Lord as a burden. As someone always waiting for them to trip up, so he can judge and condemn them. And that is very sad to me.
Which brings me to this. Your dad and I wanted you to be educated in your faith for your own good, but also for the good of others. Not so you can go around being preachy and pushy and judgmental. But, so that you can be a "light of love." Do you remember in "The O.C.", during the Passover episode in the 1st season, when Sandy Cohen begins the prayer at the Seder dinner? He prays that their family will be and do good for the world, for the country, for the community. That their family will care for humanity. Well, that prayer is a good summary of what your dad and I hope for you. So, take your educations and go out into the world and meet people Where They Are. Be compassionate. Listen to others' points of view, humbly recognizing the truth contained in those points of view. Don't demonize those who disagree with you. But, realize that most people are good, and that they want to do the right thing. And, realizing this, work with all people of good-will for a better world, knowing that you will not always get your way. Knowing that people need to make their own choices without being coerced or forced or guilt-tripped into things. Look for the virtue in people. Look for the fun. Look for the joy. And, finding these things, enjoy those other people, even if they are very different from you, and work together toward a more fraternal society.
Remember, also, that Jesus repeatedly says, "Do not be afraid." I think he says this so often because we all tend to become easily afraid. Many of your friends are afraid of what they see going on in our country and in our world. You have seen what happens when people give into that fear. People hide, stop speaking to anyone who disagrees with them, only befriend those who are like-minded, see the worst in the motivations of others. I admit, I have been guilty of this, too. But, this is not what we are supposed to do as Catholics. We are supposed to be "in" the world, but not "of" the world. Being "in" the world means that we are not supposed to run away. We are supposed to be part of the "grand party" of life, along with all the other people God has created. And what does it mean to not be "of" the world? It doesn't mean that we are to look down our noses at people who don't share our perspective. It does mean that we are to always have hope, no matter what goes on around us. That we are to realize that no matter what our government or our politicians do, they cannot take away that hope, for it is not grounded in them. Real faith, and a real life of faith, is not dependent on worldly "leaders." Accordingly, when you see others losing hope, being not "of" the world means that you will provide a listening ear, some empathy -- whether or not those people share your belief system.
So, beautiful daughters of mine, I love you so very much. And, again, I know you already know these things. It just feels good to write them down. And, as you find your way through the minefields of life, know that you will step on some of those mines and they will loudly detonate, but you never know what loveliness lies just beyond the smoke and debris.
All my heart,
Mum
I know you already know these things. But, I thought I'd just write them down, for whatever they're worth. Please don't feel naggety-nagged. This little exercise is perhaps more for my own benefit than for yours.
You are both now college graduates, entering the world of work and the adventure known as the "rest of your life." I know it is exciting, but also scary and confusing and difficult.
You have both been provided with solid, Catholic higher educations. This is something both your father and I wanted for you, and we are so happy that you wanted them, too. You have both truly taken full advantage of the educational opportunities afforded you. You have achieved the twin goals of majoring in worthy subject areas and learning your faith at an advanced level. And your faith now permeates all you do, in both your personal and work lives. I see this every day. And I am so very happy that your faith is a consolation to you. It is not a burden. The Lord should never be a burden. Always remember that the Lord loves you and is on your side. Too many people today -- even Catholic people -- seem to view the Lord as a burden. As someone always waiting for them to trip up, so he can judge and condemn them. And that is very sad to me.
Which brings me to this. Your dad and I wanted you to be educated in your faith for your own good, but also for the good of others. Not so you can go around being preachy and pushy and judgmental. But, so that you can be a "light of love." Do you remember in "The O.C.", during the Passover episode in the 1st season, when Sandy Cohen begins the prayer at the Seder dinner? He prays that their family will be and do good for the world, for the country, for the community. That their family will care for humanity. Well, that prayer is a good summary of what your dad and I hope for you. So, take your educations and go out into the world and meet people Where They Are. Be compassionate. Listen to others' points of view, humbly recognizing the truth contained in those points of view. Don't demonize those who disagree with you. But, realize that most people are good, and that they want to do the right thing. And, realizing this, work with all people of good-will for a better world, knowing that you will not always get your way. Knowing that people need to make their own choices without being coerced or forced or guilt-tripped into things. Look for the virtue in people. Look for the fun. Look for the joy. And, finding these things, enjoy those other people, even if they are very different from you, and work together toward a more fraternal society.
Remember, also, that Jesus repeatedly says, "Do not be afraid." I think he says this so often because we all tend to become easily afraid. Many of your friends are afraid of what they see going on in our country and in our world. You have seen what happens when people give into that fear. People hide, stop speaking to anyone who disagrees with them, only befriend those who are like-minded, see the worst in the motivations of others. I admit, I have been guilty of this, too. But, this is not what we are supposed to do as Catholics. We are supposed to be "in" the world, but not "of" the world. Being "in" the world means that we are not supposed to run away. We are supposed to be part of the "grand party" of life, along with all the other people God has created. And what does it mean to not be "of" the world? It doesn't mean that we are to look down our noses at people who don't share our perspective. It does mean that we are to always have hope, no matter what goes on around us. That we are to realize that no matter what our government or our politicians do, they cannot take away that hope, for it is not grounded in them. Real faith, and a real life of faith, is not dependent on worldly "leaders." Accordingly, when you see others losing hope, being not "of" the world means that you will provide a listening ear, some empathy -- whether or not those people share your belief system.
So, beautiful daughters of mine, I love you so very much. And, again, I know you already know these things. It just feels good to write them down. And, as you find your way through the minefields of life, know that you will step on some of those mines and they will loudly detonate, but you never know what loveliness lies just beyond the smoke and debris.
All my heart,
Mum
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
My Hope
There are three beautiful, bright, thoughtful, well-educated brothers. As a group, they are a little bit older than my own children. Now, these brothers are very active in the arts and in public life, conveying through their words and deeds a great concern for our country, for our world, for those who suffer. They were raised by a father who is a lawyer and a mother who is a poet -- a combination bound to produce some pretty amazing individuals.
My own three children -- two girls and a boy -- are also beautiful, bright, and well-educated. They are also very concerned for the well-being of our society, for the poor and oppressed. They wish to alleviate the suffering they see around them, hoping to live their lives in a way that will be a force for good in the world.
I see these two groups of siblings, lovely people all, and I see that they all hope for beauty, truth, and goodness in their lives and in their civilization. And this is something else I see: they are on opposite sides of the political fence in many ways. But, not in all ways.
Could they ever sit down together and discuss their hopes, dreams, and fears for their own lives, for their own culture, for the cultures of other peoples? Could they see what unites them? Could they really listen to each other when discussing their differences, so that even if they don't agree, they could at least have compassion for each other? Could they see a way through these differences so that the people in our very diverse society could live together in a peaceful way, with everyone's rights and beliefs respected? Is this possible?
I sure hope it is possible. I fear the consequences if it is not. Because, right now, I am seeing things in my country and in my world that make my stomach ache. I see people so entrenched in their belief systems, on both sides of the fence, that no one is willing to give the other the benefit of the doubt. I see statements being taken out of context and people being accused of having evil motives. I don't see many individuals who are willing to calmly listen to opposing points of view. What I am seeing is a society tearing itself apart, with each side blaming the other for the tearing.
And in my heart, I see these two beautiful groups of siblings -- different, yes, but all wanting goodness, fairness, freedom, justice. I do not want to see them at war with each other. They have all been raised by parents who love them, who have provided them with good educations, who want them to bring light to the darkness. May they find a way to do this together, in spite of their differences.
My own three children -- two girls and a boy -- are also beautiful, bright, and well-educated. They are also very concerned for the well-being of our society, for the poor and oppressed. They wish to alleviate the suffering they see around them, hoping to live their lives in a way that will be a force for good in the world.
I see these two groups of siblings, lovely people all, and I see that they all hope for beauty, truth, and goodness in their lives and in their civilization. And this is something else I see: they are on opposite sides of the political fence in many ways. But, not in all ways.
Could they ever sit down together and discuss their hopes, dreams, and fears for their own lives, for their own culture, for the cultures of other peoples? Could they see what unites them? Could they really listen to each other when discussing their differences, so that even if they don't agree, they could at least have compassion for each other? Could they see a way through these differences so that the people in our very diverse society could live together in a peaceful way, with everyone's rights and beliefs respected? Is this possible?
I sure hope it is possible. I fear the consequences if it is not. Because, right now, I am seeing things in my country and in my world that make my stomach ache. I see people so entrenched in their belief systems, on both sides of the fence, that no one is willing to give the other the benefit of the doubt. I see statements being taken out of context and people being accused of having evil motives. I don't see many individuals who are willing to calmly listen to opposing points of view. What I am seeing is a society tearing itself apart, with each side blaming the other for the tearing.
And in my heart, I see these two beautiful groups of siblings -- different, yes, but all wanting goodness, fairness, freedom, justice. I do not want to see them at war with each other. They have all been raised by parents who love them, who have provided them with good educations, who want them to bring light to the darkness. May they find a way to do this together, in spite of their differences.
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